Revisit Childhood Friends

By

Margaret Studer

Dec. 6, 2012 6:52 p.m. ET

From Winnie-the-Pooh to Peter Pan, original illustrations of well-loved children's stories provide a touch of fantasy at literature sales next week.

On Wednesday, Sotheby's London will offer illustrations from the collection of British film director Michael Winner in a single-owner auction. They will include drawings and watercolors by E.H. Shepard,Beatrix Potter,Arthur Rackham,Edmund Dulac and Kay Nielsen.

In the catalog introduction, Mr. Winner tells how he became obsessed with "the wonder of illustrations." "They had a charisma which I found enchanting," he writes. "For some reason, in many instances I knew not why, I found them absolutely riveting." All the pieces in the sale were displayed in Mr. Winner's house so he could enjoy them every day, says Sotheby's books and manuscripts specialist Philip W. Errington.

Mr. Errington notes that collecting book illustrations has a sizable following, be it for their artistic value or for nostalgic reasons: "People recognize reproductions from their childhood; and are thrilled as adults to own the original." He also points out that original illustrations can be very affordable. Estimates in Mr. Winner's auction range upward from the hundreds of pounds.

The top lot will be Shepard's drawing for A.A. Milne's "Winnie-the-Pooh," "Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin" (1926). This is the first rendering of Pooh Bear with his young friend—and one of the most famous images in children's literature (estimate: £70,000-£100,000). A 1926 drawing in which Winnie-the-Pooh discovers that Owl is using Eeyore's detachable tail as a bell-pull for the door of his tree house is expected to fetch between £50,000 and £70,000.

Potter's "Gentleman Rabbit with Letter," a watercolor from around 1890-93, is hard to beat for charm. It depicts Benjamin Bunny, a member of Potter's rabbit universe, in a gentleman's waistcoat, brandishing a hat and walking stick (estimate: £30,000-£50,000). Carrying the same estimate is Rackham's illustration for J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens" (1906) that shows fairies hiding until dark under a huge tree. Nielsen's surrealistic image from Grimm's fairy tales, published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1925, depicts Hansel and Gretel, hand in hand, staring at the wicked witch's tempting house made from bread and cakes (estimate: £20,000-£30,000). There are a number of exquisite color plates by Dulac illustrating "Stories from The Arabian Nights" (published by Hodder & Stoughton, 1907). The blue of these watercolors is extraordinary in expressing the magic of the Orient.

On the same day, Sotheby's will also have children's books and illustrations in its general literature sale. There will be a superb watercolor drawing by Dulac depicting the medieval legend of King Arthur taking the sword Excalibur from a hand rising above the waters of a lake (estimate: £5,000-£7,000). There will also be two captivating drawings by Anita Jeram for "Kiss Goodnight, Sam" (2001) by Amy Hest, one showing mother bear standing at the foot of her little bear's bed as he reaches for a final cuddle (estimate: £1,500-£2,000). Favorites of mine are illustrations by Jill Murphy for her tale "Peace at Last," first published in 1980. In the four images on offer, Mr. Bear seeks refuge throughout his house from the noise of his snoring wife (estimate: £2,000-£3,000).

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